The Portland daily press., 1887-08-18
The F,lnera, of lin

[Idaho Letter in New York Evening Post.1
Not long ago serio-comic affair occurred
on the Bear river, within half mile of my
house. Jim Call, a trapper. in pursuing his
calling, was about to set his trap on the
river bank, when huge black bear came
upon BIN suddenly from the willow bushes
Acting on the impulse of the moment, he
drew his only weapon, pistol, and fred
The bear, who was merely wounded, raised
his paw, striking the man on his head. which
was fortunately protected by his hat Never
theless the blow sent him into the river,
where he allowed himself to float with the
current until he considered it safe for him
to make a landing. He then came to town
and engaged the assistance of Jim Fairchild,
each took rifle and proceeded on the bear
hunt. But this Jim was more careless and
less acquaintaned with the ways of bears
than the other, until he now gained sad
experience which lasted him for the remain
der of his life, and that was not very long
Call proceeded to light fire to windward of
the brush to smoke the bear out. But the
impatient Fairchild, not willing to wait the
result, went on to investigate for himself.
The result of this raShneSS was that the bear
rendered ferocious by his wound, attacked
him from his lair, biting through at one nip
the stock Of his rifle and his right wrist
This rendered him powerless, and the bear
had 1t all his own way until Call came up and
puta ball through the animals head. Not
withstanding the severe "chawing" that
Fairchild had received, his life might have
been saved if good advice had been taken
and he had been carried Immediately to the
military post of Fort Hall, 90 miles distant
But whlskey is the panacea hereabouts and
the neighbors thought if liberally applied in.
ternally and externally, it would be effectual
IF not" they said, why then he would die
and it couldn't be helped after everything
has been done for him." 1t was in vain te
oppose this reasoning, and although doctor
happened to come in day or two afterwarC
his advice was not followed, and the whiske,
treatment was continued, with the conclus
ion that might have been anticipated. jim
Fairchild died. He had been dirty vaga
bond in personal appearance Water and ht
were not friends. Apparently neither he
nor his clothes ever had been washed. But
now, Jim being dead, his widow resolved
that he should have frst-class funeral, and
as preliminary that he should be made de-
cent and be clad in a billed shirt. Mrs.
Fairchild exclaimed with pride: Now don't
Jim look slick never seen him look half so
slick when he was alive. ! kind % hate to
have him buried" But it was necessary.
Womack made nice pine coffin, Sterritt
covered it with alpaca cloth; but no brass
nails could be had at the store. 1t was neces-
sary to send to the next settlement for them
and without them Mrs. Fairchild had de-
clared that the funeral could not take place.
- i'm want no Mormon" she said to me-
Il dunno as he was anything pertickler, but
| don't want Mormon fnneral for him.
Them folks don't pnt ON no style. l hearn
tell that the 'Piscopal way is most bang ur
her that snas fa ..sisS sond ,..s.S su.p
ingly promised to read the service at the
grave. We were gathered on the spot at the
appointhd hour, just at twilight, but, owing
to the time occupied in procuring the brass
nails, the hearse wagon, with the widow
perched upon the box, did not arrive until il
was nearly dark.
L commenced the service, first notifying
Daddy Weyver, the saloon keeper, that he
was to sprinkle dust upon the coffin when
the time came. 1t was not long before the
darkness closed in SO that could not see tC
read. But / repeated all of the buriel ser
vice that could remember. When at loss
for the connection ''rung in" Psalms, Te
Deum and creed so that the crowd and es-
pecially, the widow, should not go away dis.
appointed. In the mean time Daddy Weaver
who surmised correctly that | had skipped
su'thln, interrupted me with "Cap, amt il
time to dump it onto him?" i nodded my
head and repeated the formula, whereupon
Daddy threw shoyelful of gravel upon the
coffin, but was stopped by one of the mourn
ers, who cried out: Hold on, Dad; don't
fill in yet Wait till he gifts through!'' So /
said, Amen" at once The grave was filled
up. was complimented upon my perform
ance. All hands were pleased. Let us hope
Jim himself was pleased, for he had "bang
up funeral" as everybody declared.
We all went to our houses or to our camps.
The widow returned to her desolate hearth
stone. In fortnight afterward she was
married again. The reason she gave for il
was II got so kind O. used to Jim, it didn't
seem nat'ral onless had a man aroundp'